Common Names

Parts Usually Used

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

A bushy evergreen plant; 1-2 feet high, once widely cultivated for
medicinal uses, it is now grown mostly as an ornamental shrub. The
plant consists of several square, branched, downy stems which are
woody at the bottom and bear opposite, entire (toothless) sessile,
glabrous to hairy, linear-lanceolate leaves that have a peppery scent
when stroked firmly. The rose-colored to bluish-purple flowers (1/2
inch) grow in successive axillary whorls at the tops of the branches
and stems from June to October. Zones 3-10. Not heat-tolerant.

Prefers full sun and warmth but will accept some light shade. Prune
back severely in winter or early spring.

Biochemical Information

Legends, Myths and Stories

Herbs were well known in ancient Egypt. And in the Bible, Exodus
12:22, "And Ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood
that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts
with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out
of the door of his house until the morning." Scholars believe the
hyssop of this reference is Origanum aegyptiacum rather than Hyssopus
officinalis.

David, of the Bible, knew the benefits of hyssop. He drew lessons
from the remedy, which he used in showing the cleansing of the body
from sin, for he said, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:7).

Planted as a companion to cabbage (deters the cabbage moth) and grapes.
Keep away from radishes.

Hyssop is an herby fragrance used in Chartreuse, Benedictine and
other liqueurs.

Hyssop is historically known as a holy herb, used for cleansing sacred
places. Hyssop is a name of Greek origin, adopted from the Greek azob
(a holy herb), because it was often used to clean the temples and
other sacred places.

Uses

A cleansing herb, relieves catarrh,
cough, and reduces the secretion of mucus. Regulates blood pressure
(high or low), clears
the chest and calms the nerves. It promotes sweating, so this herb
is useful when coping with fevered
patients. Improves digestion
and protects the body from infection.
An excellent tonic.

Hyssop is used in essentially the same way as sage, with which it
is sometimes combined to make a gargle for sore
throats. Hyssop tea can be used for poor digestion, breast and
lung problems, expels worms,
gravel in gall bladder, conjuncivitis,
fever sores (fever blisters), chew dried leaves for toothache,
used with horehound for bronchitis
and asthma, coughs due to colds,
nose and throat infections, consumption,
mucous congestion in the intestines, laxative,
cystitis, flatulence, scrofula,
dropsy, and jaundice. The
decoction is said to help relieve inflammations,
and it can also be used as a wash for burns,
bruises, ulcers, or chronic
catarrh. Apply the crushed leaves directly to bruises or to wounds
to cure infection and promote healing.